Murder charge against teen dropped

Tuesday

Charges have been dropped in the case of a teen who was charged last November in the death of his mother’s boyfriend.

Charges have been dropped in the case of a teen who was charged last November in the death of his mother’s boyfriend.

Justin L. Bates, of Sulphur Springs, Ark., was arrested in November in rural Noel and charged with the death of Mark Leroy Pettry, 47, of Noel.

However, according to McDonald County prosecuting attorney Jonathan Pierce, due to a jury decision those charges have now been dropped.

“In this case, they didn’t feel there was sufficient evidence of murder or assault,” Pierce said.

According to the probable cause statement, written by McDonald County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Barrett, Bates entered Pettry’s residence around 6:10 p.m. Nov. 26 to pick up his younger sibling. Upon his arrival, an altercation allegedly began between he and Pettry.